Folding high chair



.lilly 17, 1951 G. L. GERBER SEAT ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1950 July 17, 1951 G. Gl-:RBER

SEAT ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1950 July 17, 195l G. L. GERBER 2,561,108

SEAT ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE Filed June 14, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 17, 1951 G. L. GERBER SEAT ROM.I CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1950 July 17, 1951 s. L. GERBER SEAT ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1950 Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED SEAT ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE George L.` Gerber, Naperville, Ill., assignor to Kroehler Mfg. Co., Naperville, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application June 14, 1950, Serial No. 168,059

7 Claims.

'I'hefpresent invention relates to production lim-i` manufacturing apparatus for assembling various kinds of cushion for upholstered furniture. It is moreV particularly concerned with staple-securement of covering fabrics to spring assembly unitssuch as are employed in sofas, parlor chairs and other living room pieces.

'Ihisapplication is companion to co-pending application Serial No. 163,587 liled May 23, 1950, inwhichthere arefrevealed certain novel improvements in the manufacture of parlor furniture-seat cushions characterized by their teachingvof a novel edge roll or lip formation which serves the purpose of retaining one or more loose omremovable` cushions such as are customarily placed over cushion spring bases `whereby to prevent such cushions from creeping or otherwise becoming dislodged. As revealed in said co-pending application the improved edge roll structures consist of an especially formed foundation lip achieved by eccentric deformation of the uppermost convolutions of a front row of seat cushion springs so as to produce a skeleton or foundation and over which a padded ledgeis thereafter made secure.

The instant invention concerns itself with special service apparatus which is adapted to handle auch' deformed convolution spring assemblies and which fastens by staplestitching the eccentric deformations of such springs to an overlay padding assembly including a matted sisal pad having substantial thickness to protect users from the discomfort of the coil wire irregularities.

The problem presented in the practice of this invention is one of appropriately accommodating aunitary assembly of such springs in which Vthe corresponding convolutions are parallelly deformed so as to facilitate the staple-stitching operation in a facile and expeditious manner with the object in View of performing the securement operation under high productivity methods of factory assembly. In this manner the cost element, with particular concern tofeconomy and infallibility, may be maintained low by relatively unskilled'or at best moderately skilled labor tech nicians. Because it is also a purpose of this invention to perform the aforedescribed stapling operation after certain subassembly components have been separately integrated into, it `is of significance that the apparatus of the instant invention is especially suited to the handling of spring cushion subassemblies and cover unit subassemblies, each of which has been brought up to complete integration without encountering con- .mct 'in respect to accessibility and variation dimenslonwise.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is one which may be expressed as achieving a work table and staplng machine combination suited to the purpose of staplestitching multiple coil spring convolutions having comparatively rigid .physical dimensions to a subassembly of covering fabrics under conditions of rapid handling and execution.

Another object of the present invention is one of accommodating a cushion spring assembly and covering unit through mutual integration operationsrwhere the springs of said assembly are deformed for the purpose of producing a foundation for a padded lip or edge. roll effect.

Further and additional important objects of this invention are` such as will become evident froma reading of the hereunto 4appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a work table and stapli-ng machine apparatus having embodied therein certain features ofthe present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same apparatus with portions broken away,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus featured infFigs. 1 and 2 showing the worlrtable in solid and dotted outline to denote alternative angles of relationship thereof with the stapling machine,

Fig. 4-is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken approximately on line 4--4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the work table sans the apparatus structure featured in Fig. 4.

Fig. G is a perspective view of an upholstered base cushion and its applied covering produced in accordance with the teachings of the co-pending application referred to. above,

Fig. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary detailed view of f a principal stitch-staple construction such as is used with deformed convolutions by the apparatus Vfeatured.in Figs. 1-3,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one `of the workretaining brackets carried at each end of the supporting table structure,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational View, partially in section, showing the floor mounting and treadle apparatuswhich relate to the principal structures featured in Fles. 1 and 3, and

Fig. 10 is` an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of Va portion of the Work table and stapling machine mechanism ,showing how a locating spot light vis .employed for accurately determining the precise staple area in advance of each staple forming and securing operation.

Articles of parlor furniture such as divans. overstufled chairs and dual purpose davenports are customarily provided with a spring lled seat base, Fig. 6, that may vary dimensionally in length and Width, according to style and preference. Under improved methods of construction these units are ofttimes assembled on a rectangular frame work of angle iron components designated 2|, 22 and 23 secured together at their junction by riveting or welding so as to provide horizontally extending flanges. Through regularly spaced apertures in these Webs or flanges there are made fast coordinate rows of joist springs 24 Vand. 25. At the intersection of these joist springs or rods 24 and 25 there are secured in any of several well known manners of practice upstandingV helical compression springs 26 of conical or hypoid outline, so shaped as to present uppermost their largest-in-diameter convolutions 21. These springs are preformed so that the aforesaid outermost convolutions 21 are eccentrically bent or deformed, see Figs. 4 and 5, producing angling l lip formations 23 that possess a common angular relationship with the planes in which the major portion of their convolutions 21 lie.

The aforedescribed spring deformations are characteristic of the front row only of the multiple rows of springs which constitute the basic spring assembly best portrayed in Fig. 6. Various methods are employed for stabilizing these springs to yieldably maintain their upright position such as by interlashing with cross connector elements or as by interweaving with continuously traversing so-called pigtail coils. In addition, the entire assembly is made more secure `by being perimetrically bounded with a form wire 29 adapted to lie in the principal plane which is common to all of the convolutions 21. Form wire 29 is made to conform further with the assembly by being bent as at 3|, Fig. 6, angularly in correspondence with the lip deformations 23. At each point of tangency where the form wire 29 circumscribes the outermost convolutions 21 it is lashed thereto by an enveloping clamp 32 and in this way the metallic assembly of spring is rendered integral and relatively rigid while at the same time there is afforded the desired degree of yield or compressibility for making the base cushion unit comfortably compressive to accommodate the general purpose and objects of upholstered parlor furniture.

After the metallic spring assembly has been integrated in the manner generally outlined above, it is necessary to cover the entire structure with a subassembly of several fabrics whose purposes are to conceal, supply smoothness, and form padding. as well as to provide adornment or ornamentation which characterizes in color and style each particular article of furniture. For example, there will be observed that the assembled coil springs are covered by a thickness or pad of matted sisal 33 which consists of an intertwined and evenly distributed brous pad well known under other methods of furniture manufacture and preferably having one or the other of its surfaces dipped into a plastic binder such as rubber. The length and width of pad 33 is usually such as to overlie and extend beyond the perimetric outlining wire 29. The outermost edge of pad 33, see Figs. 4, and l0, is stitched as on a stitch line 34 to a burlap strain relieving fabric 35 which in the ultimate product remains concealed from view, having its free end anchored to a nailing strip 36 or otherwise made fast as suits particular manufacturing preferences.

Paralleling the row o f stitching 34, Fig.` 5, the several fabrics generally referred to above are in 4 l advance secured to one another and to a narrow cardboard form strip 31 by a row of metal stitching staples 33. Included in this integration of fabrics and form strip 31, in addition to the already described sisal pad 33 are a pair of fabrics designated 39 and 4I. The latter two, as may be discerned from Figs. 4 and 6, include the utility covering 39 which encases completely the spring assembly structure in respect to its top and three of its peripheral sides, while the ornamentation fabric is doubled over to retain the edge roll padding strip 42 and thereafter parallels and conceals the already discussed strain relieving fabric 35, being also nailed to the bottom structure as at the nailing strip 3E or alternatively to impallng prongs as disclosed in the co-pending application.

The present invention concerns itself with certain procedural steps in the assembly as a result of which the springs 26, and more particularly the uppermost convolutions of them 21, are made fast to the sisal pad 33. To accomplish this association and securement under production live methods of treatment, the subassembly of fabrics featured in Figs. 4 and 5 is turned inside out and laid with the sisal pad 33 topmost on an inclined-plane Work table 43. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-4, the table 43 is mounted on a suitable base support or frame generally designated 44, that is supported on four roller Wheels 45 directionally disposed in a manner to describe an arcuate travel course on which they may be expected to roll, see particularlyv Fig. 3. In this way the work table 43 may be made to assume the solid outlined position or dotted outlined position alternatively, as the stapling machine 46 maintains permanently the position shown thereat and also in Fig. 2. The purpose of affording the arcuate path adjustable alignment table 43 is one of accommodating for the particular angular placement of the securing staples 41 or 48, Fig. 5, since the two straightsided sections of the spring deflection 28 angle in symmetrical opposition with respect to each other as well as to the principal convolution 21.

In operation, therefore, when the table 43 is placed into either of its alternative positions, the operator will slide the spring assembly and the fabric subassembly, one placed upon the other, longitudinally across the table at the same time completing the placing and securement of all of the staples 48 and thereafter by reversing the position of the table 43 repeat the same procedure in placing all of the staples 41. It has been found that by performing these operations in this manner the accomplishment of full staple securement involving the integration of the convolutions 21 to the sisal pad 33 is attainable most expeditiously and within the shortest operating time.

The swinging of the table 43 on its roller wheels 45 While maintaining firm anchorage of the center portion in respect to the stapling machine 46 may be made a more infallible and easier to manipulate function by providing a pivot sleeve 49, Fig. 9, which extends downwardly from a mounting fixture 5I, bolted as at '52 to the principal structure 44 of the frame work. The pivot sleeve 49 rests over and receives an upstanding pintle 53 which is made fast to the stapling machine by rigidifying brackets 54 shown in Fig. 9 to be bedded as at 55 in a concrete floor. The brackets 54 may also pass through the footing '56 or base portieri of the stapling machine 46. r.

asuntos Attheffibift of tire" staplihgmaeliine 'IF' and 'nwr'the center of the' table 43 there'isprovl'ded 'for' easy access' by 4the operatorsrbdt `a treadle 51, preferably spring loaded and adapted to 'control an 'electric contact` element 'in the man- 'ner well known 'in stapling machine' control whereby for each 'treadle operation a single staplln'g forming 'and applying ,perfomance is accomplished. The' manner 'in 'which the electrical circuit for performing supervision over 'the staplin'g machine is operated forms Vno part' vof the present invention 'ltnit'instead` may be 'any one 'of several Well known .control Ysystems practiced in the 'art of staple operation;

As the work is 'slidacro'ss thein'ciined 'table' H3 aznarrowhorizontal tableledge 5t; Figs. 4 and '10, which forms the same' angle With respect to the principal table surface 43 lasis characteristic of theV 'flare of the deflected spring portions '28 'in respect to their convolutions 2.1 isv provided 'for 'the` ,purpose of affording adequate ledge support to 'the assembly as it is slid' longitudinally and progressively from spring tov spring `to align the respective spring portions with the staplingmachine hammer and anvil 6i. Proper alignment is in this Way made known to the operator before he steps upon foot treadle 51. by means of a bullseye lighting apparatus E2 carried on an adjustable bracket 63 which is mounted as at 64.to .the stapling head B5. The beam of light 66 which emanates from the lighting fixture 62 is convergent so as to produce a small arear locating circle 61, Fig. 5, at the proper place in the wire of deflected spring portion 28 Whereafter the depression and actuation of the stapling head and its encounter with the stapling anvil 69 may be predetermined With finite reliability and accuracy.

Since the width of spring cushions may vary within limited ranges it has been found expedient to provide an adjustment as shown in Fig. 8 which includes a pair of slideable side brackets 1|, wing-nut secured as at 12, to the table 43 and carrying an angle bracket 13. This bracket extending across the full length of the table, Figs. 2 and 3, prevents the spring cushion assembly from becoming misaligned as it is slid along the table 43. In this Way the securing staples 41 and 4B may be applied to integrate the fabric and steel spring subassemblies to one another with maximum efficiency and under high production speed methods.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood nevertheless that numerous variations and modifications are susceptible of incorporation without departing from its essential spirit or scope. It is accordingly not intended to be limited, for an understanding of the invention to the particular illustrations shown in the accompanying drawings, nor to the arbitrary language chosen in the foregoing description but instead to be afforded a latitude of interpretation as is inherent in the hereunto appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. An apparatus for stitching together a spring filled steel subassembly and a multiple fabric and padding subassembly which comprises, a work table carried upon a mobile support structure, caster wheels under said support structure disposed to direct said structure to be rolled to and fro about an arcuate path, an automatic staple forming and clinching machine associated with said structure and work table. a, pivotal articulationconnecting said structure with a base portion of' saidl staple-forming and clinching machine and constituting the pivotal center of said `arcuate path'. anda control *treadl'e for operating V*said staplirrg machine' mounted upon said structure.

S2'. A production line stitch-stapling apparatus for securing 'to furniture base spring assemblies their fabric and pad coverings which comprises, a work table having an inclined surface portion merging with a horizontal surface portion', said Work table being' mounted upon a rigid support 4base and being provided at its approximate'center beneath said horizontal surface portion with a pivot coupling element. a staple forming and clinching machine electrically operated and havinga base extremity on which is carried a cooperat'ing coupling element for affording a vertical pivot withsaid rstmcntioned pivot coupling element, a Work support guide transversely adjustable on said work table inclined surface portion for maintaining superimposed spring and fabric assembliesfin longitudinal parallelism as they are advanced during line stitching by said machine. Yand a light beam projecting apparatus adjustably supported on said machine for precisely locating staple application areas on said assemblies.

3. A special purpose assembly line apparatus for staple stitch-ing onto a spring Afilled subassem- `bly -a multiple` fabric and overlay padding .sub- Vassembly which comprises, a Work supporting table carried upon a pivoting base structure, wheels under said pivoting structure placed to roll about an arcuate path, guide fixtures adjustably securable to said table for confining Work advanced thereon to parallel linear movement, an automatic staple forming and clinching machine associated with said work table, and a pivotal articulation connecting said structure with a base portion of said staple forming and clinching machine and constituting the pivotal center of said arcuate path.

4. An assembly line stitch stapling apparatus for securing to metallic base spring subassemblies their covering subassemblies which comprises a work table having an inclined surface portion merging with a horizontal surface portion at an angle which corresponds to that at which an edge row of the metallic springs of said subassemblies have their uppermost convolutions angularly and in parallel alignment bent, said work table being mounted upon a support base provided at its approximate center beneath said horizontal surface portion with a pivot element, a staple forming and clinehing machine having a. base extremity on which is carried a cooperating pivot element for forming a vertical axis Divot with said first mentioned pivot element, guide means transversely adjustable on said Work table inclined surface portion for directing said subassemblies parallelly, and a light beam projecting apparatus carried by said stapling machine for indicating the striking area of staples applied and clinched by said machine.

5. A machine for securing fabric covering subassemblies to seat cushion spring coll subassemblies in which the forward row of spring coils have their uppermost convolutions parallelly and similarly deformed to provide a seat roll lip foundation comprising, a principal work table having an inclined portion to support the major area of the spring coil subassemblies and a horizontal surface portion to support the deformed parallel spring convolution portions, a machine for automatically forming wire staples from a coil of supply wire and for applying and clinching said assidue 7 staples to integrate said forward row of spring coils along a stitch row to the fabric subassemblies, vertical pivot means coupling said work table with said stapling machine, said vertical pivot means having its pivot axis in vertical alignment with the staple applying and clinching area of said machine, a roller system for permitting said work table to be rotated within a limited arc radius about said vertical pivot, and means adjustably carried by said work table for confining work supported thereupon for travel in longitudinal parallelism with said work table whilst maintaining constant spaced alignment with respect to said .stapling area.

6. A production line apparatus for applying stitching staples to upholstery fabrics comprising an electrically operated stitching staple forming and olinching machine having a target anvil at a horizontal level and a stapling hammer disposed for operation over said anvil, a base portion to said machine having a vertically upstanding pintle, a Work supporting table carrying arcuate path aligned caster rollers and having a pivot element for receiving said pintle, said supporting table including a horizontal surface portion at a level corresponding with said stapling machine anvil and an inclined surface portion angling downwardly from said horizontal surface portion, and an adjustable means securable to said inclined surface portion of said table to constitute a guide for directing the movement of work to be slid longitudinally along the surface of said table parallelly whereby to expose successive areas in a linear path to the staple applying elements oi' said stapling machine.

7. An assembly line apparatus for stapling fabric covering subassemblies to seat cushion spring coil subassemblies in which the forward row of spring coils have their uppermost convolutions similarly deformed to provide a seat row lip foundation comprising. a principal table having one surface inclined to support the major area of the spring coil subassembly and another surface for supporting the -alignment of deformed spring convolution portions, a machine for automatically forming wire Staples from a coil of supply wire and for applying and clinching said staples to encompass said spring coil convolutions and their adjacent fabric coverings, vertical pivot means for articulating said table and said stapling machine, said vertical pivot means being in vertical alignment with the staple applying and clinching apparatus of said machine, a roller support structure for permitting said work table to be rotatably adjusted -within an arc about said vertical pivot, and means carried by said Work table for guiding work supported thereupon to travel in longitudinal parallelism with said work table.

GEORGE L. GERBER.

No references cited. 

